Can Lakers Star Power Outshine Clippers Depth in the Battle of LA?

For the first time in well, ever, the Los Angeles Clippers are knocking on the door as a team poised to take over the top spot in L.A. basketball from the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers always have been, and perhaps always will be, the most dominant team in Staples Center, if not by their play on the court, then certainly by the banners hanging in the rafters.

No logical NBA fan can deny the star-studded starting five the Lakers have for next season. However, by that same token, the Clippers’ starting lineup is still rock solid, and they have more depth and talent off the bench when compared with the Lakers’ second unit.

The Clippers raised some eyebrows before the start of the lockout-shortened season by beating the rival Lakers twice during the preseason, including a 114-95 blowout.

Of course, the Clippers’ preseason efforts were swept under the rug.

Who cares? It was preseason. What does preseason matter in the grand scheme of the NBA?

The Lakers and Clippers went on to face off a disappointing total of three times during the regular season, with the Lakers winning the season series 2-1.

Even so, the Lakers finished the season just one win better than the Clippers, so with a year under their belts, the Clips may be poised to take over the top spot in the Pacific division.

Both teams have improved from a year ago, so it’s time to break down the matchup in the battle of L.A. for next season. Each starter at the same position will square off, followed by a matchup between players six through 12 on either side.

Point Guard: Chris Paul vs. Steve Nash

Here we have a former two-time NBA MVP squaring off with the best point guard in the NBA today.

Where I fully believe that Steve Nash, if given free rein to run the offense with the Lakers, could improve both the play of his teammates and the team’s play as a whole, Chris Paul managed to turn the Clippers from laughingstock to contender with his presence last season.

Although Nash, at 38 years old, is still playing at an unfathomably high level, his evident defensive shortcomings when compared with Paul’s tremendous defensive tenacity out of the point guard spot have him fighting a losing battle here.

Edge: Los Angeles Clippers

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant vs. Chauncey Billups

Although seeing Chauncey Billups as the Clippers' starting shooting guard for next season isn’t exactly a certainty, “Mr. Big Shot” did start all 20 of his games last season before going down with injury, so he gets the nod here.

Kobe Bryant is a five-time NBA champion, has an MVP trophy to his credit and is the unquestioned leader of the Lakers’ locker room. Honestly, this position isn’t even an argument. Sorry, Chauncey.

Edge: Los Angeles Lakers

Small Forward: Caron Butler vs. Metta World Peace

Caron Butler started 63 games for the Clippers a season ago and even played with a broken hand in the playoffs. I think it’s fair to say that Butler’s nickname, “Tough Juice,” is well-deserved.

So can Butler’s toughness and tenacity match up favorably with the craziness of Metta World Peace?

Well, Butler is the better scorer and rebounder by comparison, but it can be argued that World Peace is the better defensive player.

However, Butler isn’t a threat to lose you a game by way of a flagrant foul and wasn’t a name rumored to be amnestied this summer. The same can’t be said for World Peace.

Edge: Los Angeles Clippers

Power Forward: Pau Gasol vs. Blake Griffin

Alas, here we have undoubtedly the closest and most competitive position between the two Los Angeles teams.

Would you rather have the young, athletic (yet injury-prone) Blake Griffin? Or the veteran, two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol?

It can be argued that Griffin puts up gaudier stats, but Gasol only averaged 3.3 fewer points per game when compared with the highlight reel from Clipper Nation a season ago.

In addition, Gasol averaged far more blocks per game (1.4) when compared with Griffin (0.7) despite Gasol’s prevalent label from critics as being “soft.”

The frequent trade rumors surrounding Gasol have gone so far that they’ve actually made the Spaniard underrated. He’s still one of the best power forwards in the NBA.

Although Griffin has the hype, dunking ability and stats, he’s still a major liability in crunch-time because he’s a putrid free-throw shooter (he shot just 52.1 percent from the charity stripe last season).

Bottom line: You can’t go wrong with either of these guys on your roster.

Edge: Neither

Center: Andrew Bynum vs. DeAndre Jordan

Andrew Bynum stayed consistently healthy last season for the first time since 2007 and put up big numbers as a result.

Bynum is widely considered to be the second-best center in the NBA behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard, so comparing him to a guy who barely even saw minutes during crunch-time last season in DeAndre Jordan just seems silly.

Jordan is extremely athletic, a great shot-blocker and solid rebounder, but he simply isn’t on the level of a guy like Bynum.

Edge: Los Angeles Lakers

Bench:

Los Angeles Clippers: Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom, Eric Bledsoe, Ryan Hollins, Travis Leslie, Trey Thompkins

vs.

Los Angeles Lakers: Antawn Jamison, Jordan Hill, Steve Blake, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga, Andrew Goudelock, Robert Sacre, Darius Johnson-Odom

Where adding Antawn Jamison and re-signing Jordan Hill are both solid steps to improving the Lakers’ terrible second unit from a year ago, they simply don’t measure up with the Clippers’ depth.

The Clippers have two former winners of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom. In addition, they have the veteran, consummate professional Grant Hill, as well as the youthful Eric Bledsoe at guard.

The Clippers bench is vastly improved from last year’s unit of Randy Foye, Nick Young and Reggie Evans. The Clips have defense, scoring and experience off their bench, which will be a tool they must use to their advantage next season.

Edge: Los Angeles Clippers

There’s little doubt that the Clippers’ second unit for next season is vastly superior to the Lakers’ bench.

While, the Lakers’ star power in the starting lineup is certainly their strongest asset, the team’s bench is their Achilles heel.

Additionally, the star-studded starting lineup may not even have a definitive edge over the Clippers’ starting five, especially if Blake Griffin can continue to improve his game.

Although the Clippers are certainly in the hunt to become the new alpha dog of the Pacific division, they can’t get the nod until they actually prove they’re the better, deeper team when compared with the rival Lakers.

For the moment the Lakers with Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and the newly acquired floor general Steve Nash hold the edge in the battle of L.A.

However, the Clippers are ready to make some noise yet again.

Could the Lakers’ age ultimately lead to their demise? Only time will tell the answer to that question, but they'd be foolish not to look over their shoulders at the contending Clippers.